Giesen Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014: Pale straw color; delicate pear-peach, orange blossom nose; lemon, pear, lime, green apple, pinch of pineapple on the palate; off-dry with balancing acidity; smooth, fresh, crisp, clean, fruit-sweetness lingers on finish that includes a hint of honey. Not a complicated wine, but tasty and fairly priced to go with chicken dishes or fruits such as pear and peach. The three Giesen brothers came to New Zealand in 1981, and the evolution and rise of their operation tracks with New Zealand’s emergence as a significant player in the global wine market. Pinto gris is not the first white that leaps to mind from a Marlborough maker—sauv blanc has that honor locked down for as far as humans can imagine—but this effort shows versatility in the northern part of New Zealand’s southern island and is clearly worth a taste. Sip on a summer-day patio paired with a pear and light cheese before you go hard-core with red meat sizzling on summer-night grill; then reflect on how good life can be. $14
